Enhanced encapsulation mechanism using GRE protocol

ABSTRACT

Wireless gateway nodes are enabled to support mobile node services, such as content based billing, when a data treatment server is present in the system. Using one of a defined Content Flow Label (CFL), an Application Program Interface (API), and a compression protocol header, content based billing is provided such as by exchanging content and byte count information with the data treatment server.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §§120, 121, as a divisional, to the following U.S. UtilityPatent Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility PatentApplication for all purposes:

-   1. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/917,852, entitled “Enhanced    Encapsulation Mechanism using GRE Protocol,” filed Aug. 13, 2004,    pending, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the    following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications which are hereby    incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made part of    the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:-   a. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/560,807, entitled    “Enhanced Encapsulation Mechanism using GRE Protocol,” filed Apr. 8,    2004, expired.-   b. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/495,280, entitled    “Method for Performing Network Services”, filed Aug. 15, 2003,    expired.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to cellular wireless communicationsystems and, more particularly, to enhanced protocols and servicesprovided therein.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a non-voice value added servicethat allows information to be sent and received across a mobiletelephone network. It supplements, or rides on top of, today's circuitswitched data and short message service networks. The theoreticalmaximum speed of GPRS includes speeds of up to approximately 171.2kilobits per second (kbps). This maximum speed is achievable in GPRSsystems using all eight timeslots at the same time in a Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA) context. This speed is about three times as fastas data transmission speeds possible over today's fixedtelecommunication networks and ten times as fast as current circuitswitched data services on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)standard TDMA networks. Thus, GPRS systems are advantageous in that theyrequire less system resources to transmit a fixed amount of data incomparison to using a traditional circuit switched approach. By allowinginformation to be transmitted more quickly, immediately, and efficientlyacross the mobile network, GPRS may well be a relatively less costlymobile data service compared to Short Message Service (SMS) and circuitswitched data services.

GPRS also facilitates instant connections in which information can besent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radiocoverage. No dial-up modem connection is necessary. GPRS, similar tosome broadband connections for personal computers, often is referred toas being “always connected”. Thus, another one of the advantages of GPRSis that data may be transmitted immediately, whenever the need arises.In contrast to circuit switched data networks in which a connection mustbe established to transmit a data packet or data file, GPRS operation isextremely efficient in those situations in which a small amount of datais to be sent. As the emphasis of many designs today are to createwireless computer networks, and to connect data devices includingpersonal computers to wireless transceivers and mobile terminals, such asystem that provides instantaneous response is very important for timecritical applications and, more generally, for the implementation ofwireless computer networks. For example, a remote credit cardauthorization system implemented in a wireless network can be greatlyimproved if it is unnecessary for the customer to wait the amount oftime that is required to establish a connection.

As suggested before, GPRS involves overlaying a packet based airinterface on an existing circuit switched wireless network. For example,the circuit switched wireless network may comprise a GSM network.Accordingly, the user is given an option to utilize a packet based dataservice. In order to overlay a packet based air interface over a circuitswitched network, the GPRS standard defines new infrastructure nodes tominimize the impact to existing networks in terms of hardware andsoftware. For example, a Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) and a ServingGPRS Support Node (SGSN) are two such infrastructure nodes.

One advantage of GPRS is that the packet switching that results from theinfrastructure nodes allows the use of GPRS radio resources only whenusers actually are sending or receiving data. Unlike traditional circuitswitched voice networks, a connection is not continuously reserved for auser for the intermittent transmission of data. This efficient use ofscarce radio resources means that larger numbers of GPRS users can sharethe same bandwidth and be served from a single base station or cell. Theactual number of users that may use the system at one time depends, ofcourse, on the amount of data being transferred.

Packet domain utilized in GPRS and a Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS) uses a packet-mode technique to transfer high-speed andlow-speed data and signaling in an efficient manner and generallyoptimizes network and radio resources. Strict separation between theradio subsystems and network subsystems is maintained thereby allowing anetwork subsystem to be reused with other radio technologies. A commoncore network provides packet switched services and supports differingquality of service (QoS) levels to allow efficient transfer ofnon-continuous bit rate traffic (for example, bursty data transfers).

The UMTS network also provides connectionless services. Moreover, GPRSand UMTS support push services. A push service is the delivery of dataor multimedia information from a network node to user equipment for thepurpose of providing subscriber-based information from the network. Apush service also can include activating a Packet Data Protocol (PDP)context, if necessary. Examples of delivery networks that offer pushservices include, as stated, the GPRS network, but can also includeother equipment, such as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy, apush proxy or an SMS service center. Push services are becoming popularbecause of their ability to deliver advertisements, as well assubscriber ordered content services such as streaming media, web pages,traffic conditions, sports scores, stock quotes, etc. New services andfeatures being offered require that push capabilities be implemented toenable external Internet protocol networks to deliver data to thirdgeneration (3G) wireless terminals in the paging system (PS) domain.

Some of these new services and features are provided by content serviceproviders that charge for the content accessed and applications used.Traditionally, Internet usage has been based on time “on-line” due tothe reliance on the original Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)that maintained a connected switched circuit regardless of the amount ofdata transiting the switched circuit. Providing content based billingmotivates IP network service providers to charge for content deliveredto the mobile subscriber. This is typically accomplished by a wirelessgateway node inspecting the payload of data packets to determine contentand byte count.

Data treatment servers are used in wireless communication networks tooptimize or compress the payload of data packets to reduce the amount ofdata transmitted over a wireless communication link. This treatment ofthe payload renders the payload unreadable by the wireless gateway nodeand, therefore, prevents payload inspection.

Data packet content based billing in a GPRS or UMTS thus typicallyrequires a wireless gateway node, such as a GGSN, to be capable ofinspecting content of data being transmitted through the gateway node.When data is conducted through the gateway node in a proprietary ortreated format, however, the payload is unreadable and the gatewaydevice is unable to perform content based billing and is thereforeunable to provide content based services. The presence of a datatreatment server that treats (optimizes or compresses) the data packetpayload often, therefore, defeats the ability for data packetinspection. There is, therefore, a need for an apparatus and a methodfor providing mobile node services such as content based billing in awireless communication network with data treatment servers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is functional block diagram of a communication network formed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an API uplink embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an API downlink embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a tunnel uplink embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a tunnel downlink embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is an uplink signal graph according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a downlink signal graph according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the compression protocol header in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is functional block diagram of a communication network formed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thecommunication network shown generally at 100 includes a mobile node 104that communicates within a GPRS network. Mobile node 104 is aGPRS-capable and voice-capable mobile terminal that communicates withthe GPRS network by way of a Base Station Controller (BSC) 108 and atower 112. The BSC 108 includes a Packet Control Unit (PCU) thatseparates the packet data for transmission to a Serving GPRS SupportNode (SGSN) 116 by way of a Gb interface. Although shown as part of BSC108, the PCU could be formed as a separate unit. The GPRS networkincludes SGSN 116 that is operatively coupled to a wireless gateway node120. Additionally, a data treatment server 124 is operably coupled towireless gateway node 120 to provide data treatment services to mobilenode subscribers. The SGSN, such as SGSN 116, is for communicating witha mobile node to initiate a data session or connection through awireless data packet network and providing data packet routing betweenthe mobile node and wireless gateway node 120. The wireless gateway node120 provides a gateway, as its name suggests, from the wireless datapacket network to a data packet network 128. Thus, as may be seen,wireless gateway node 120 is operatively coupled to data packet network128.

A mobile terminal 132 communicates, by way of a Radio Network Controller(RNC) 136 and a tower 138, with an SGSN 140 within a UMTS network. TheSGSN 140 connects to wireless gateway node 120 to access data packetnetwork 128. Generally, the SGSN monitors an individual mobile nodelocation and performs related functions, such as access control andmobility management. The SGSN connects to the GSM base station throughthe high-speed frame relay Gb interface and/or to the UMTS RNC throughan Iu interface. The SGSN is functionally equivalent to a MobileSwitching Center (MSC) in a voice-only GSM network. Wireless gatewaynode 120 provides interworking with external packet switched networksthat are connected to SGSNs via an IP-based packet domain backbonenetwork. Generally, the wireless gateway node 120 provides an interfacebetween the GPRS/UMTS networks and an external packet switched networksuch as the Internet.

To facilitate higher bandwidth, data packets transferred between themobile node and external data packets networks may be compressed oroptimized by proprietary treatment software to reduce the number ofbytes of data transmitted over the wireless link. Data treatment server124, comprising one of a Traffic Protocol Optimizer (TPO) and a loadbalancer, treats the payload of downlink data packets before the datapackets are routed to the RNC/BSC. Similarly, uplink data packetstransmitted by a mobile node having a treated payload are routed bywireless gateway node 120 to data treatment server 124 which removes thetreatment before returning the untreated data packet to wireless gatewaynode 120 for routing to data packet network 128.

For wireless gateway nodes to perform mobile node services such ascontent based billing, pre-paid wireless, firewall services, and contentbased routing, the wireless gateway node must be able to inspect thedata packets for content. Data treatment of the data packet payloadmakes it impossible for the wireless gateway node to interpret thecompressed or optimized payload.

As will be described in greater detail below, methods of the presentinvention provide mechanisms to send and receive payload content andtransmitted treated byte count information between the wireless gatewaynode and the data treatment server.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an API uplink embodiment of thepresent invention. An uplink is defined as a transfer of a data packetfrom a mobile node to a data packet network. In the example of FIG. 2,mobile node 150 is transferring a data packet containing a treatedpayload to data packet network 128. Wireless gateway node 120 may be oneof a GGSN or a media gateway and, in the example of FIG. 2, representsall network support elements such as RNCs, BSCs and SGSNs. The treatedpayload contains data that has been compressed or optimized by aproprietary software algorithm to reduce the amount of data transmittedover a wireless link.

Wireless gateway node 120 routes the data packet, including theuntreated payload, to a destination according to a destination addressin the data packet header. In order to provide mobile node services,such as content based billing, wireless gateway node 120 must inspectthe payload to determine the contents thereof. Because of the treatedpayload, wireless gateway node 120 is unable to inspect the contents ofthe treated payload and is therefore unable to perform mobile nodeservices as discussed above. Wireless gateway node 120 routes the datapacket with the treated payload to data treatment server 124 where thetreated payload is un-optimized to create an untreated payload and isthen routed back to wireless gateway node 120. Wireless gateway node 120inspects the untreated payload for content before routing the datapacket with the untreated payload to data packet network 128. For eachcontent type in the untreated payload, wireless gateway node 120 createsa content flow label. Content types may be based on informationidentified by any type of ID or label in layers 3 through 7 of the OSIstack. For example, the content types may be identified as one of aUniform Resource Locator (URL) for any packet data network including,for example, HTTP or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), or even aphone number.

An API is a series of software functions for utilizing operating systemfeatures. The API provides a common interface for higher level softwareprograms to access these functions. In the example of FIG. 2, wirelessgateway node 120 executes an API to transfer each created CFL to datatreatment server 124 over signaling link 154. The signaling link 154 maybe over one of an SS7 network, an ATM network, or an IP network. Datatreatment server 124 returns a byte count corresponding to each CFL oversignaling link 158 to wireless gateway node 120. The returned byte countfor each CFL type represent the number of bytes transmitted over thewireless link between mobile node 150 and wireless gateway node 120.Thus, wireless gateway node 120 provides services for mobile node 150based on transmitted treated payload byte counts and the content of thetreated payload.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an API downlink embodiment of thepresent invention. A downlink is defined as a transfer of a data packetfrom a data packet network to a mobile node. In the example of FIG. 3,wireless gateway node 120 receives a data packet containing an untreatedpayload from data packet network 128. Wireless gateway node 120 may beone of a GGSN or a media gateway and, in the example of FIG. 3,represents all network support elements such as RNCs, BSCs and SGSNs.

Wireless gateway node 120 functions as a routing device to route a datapacket to a destination based on a destination address in the datapacket header. In order to provide mobile node services, such as contentbased billing, wireless gateway node 120 inspects the untreated payloadto determine the contents thereof. The services are based on thetransmitted byte count for each content type.

Wireless gateway node 120 inspects the untreated payload for contentbefore routing the data packet with the untreated payload to datatreatment server 124. For each content type in the untreated payload,wireless gateway node 120 creates a CFL. Content types may be based onone of a URL, a phone number, or a WAP. Wireless gateway node 120 routesthe data packet with the untreated payload to data treatment server 124where the untreated payload is optimized to create a treated payload.The treated payload contains data that has been compressed or optimizedby a proprietary software algorithm to reduce the amount of datatransmitted over a wireless link. The data packet including the treatedpayload is routed back to wireless gateway node 120 which forwards thedata packet to mobile node 150.

In order to associate a transmitted treated byte count with each CFL,wireless gateway node 120 executes an API to transfer each created CFLto data treatment server 124 over signaling link 154. The signaling link154 may be over one of an SS7 network, an ATM network, or an IP network.Data treatment server 124 returns, by way of signaling link 154, a bytecount corresponding to each CFL to wireless gateway node 120. Thereturned byte count for each CFL type represent the number of bytestransmitted over the wireless link between mobile node 150 and wirelessgateway node 120. Thus, wireless gateway node 120 provides services formobile node 150 based on transmitted treated payload byte counts and thecontent of the treated payload.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a tunnel uplink embodiment of thepresent invention. An uplink is defined as a transfer of a data packetfrom a mobile node to a data packet network. In the example of FIG. 4,mobile node 150 is transferring a data packet containing a treatedpayload to data packet network 128. Wireless gateway node 120 may be oneof a GGSN or a media gateway and, in the example of FIG. 4, representsall network support elements such as RNCs, BSCs and SGSNs. The treatedpayload contains data that has been compressed or optimized by aproprietary software algorithm to reduce the amount of data transmittedover a wireless link.

Wireless gateway node 120 routes the data packet including the untreatedpayload to a destination according to a destination address in the datapacket header. In order to provide mobile node services, such as contentbased billing, wireless gateway node 120 must inspect the payload todetermine the contents thereof. Because of the treated payload, wirelessgateway node 120 is unable to inspect the contents of the treatedpayload and is therefore unable to perform services, such as contentbased billing. Wireless gateway node 120 creates tunnel 158 byencapsulating the data packet by adding a content flow label field tothe data packet header. Wireless gateway node 120 routes theencapsulated data packet to data treatment server 124 where the treatedpayload is un-optimized to create an untreated payload. Data treatmentserver 124 inserts a corresponding byte count in the encapsulated datapacket for each CFL then routes the data packet back to wireless gatewaynode 120.

Wireless gateway node 120 inspects and classifies the untreated payloadfor content before routing the data packet with the untreated payload todata packet network 128. Content types may be based on one of a URL, aphone number, or a WAP. Thereafter, wireless gateway node 120 performsservices for mobile node 150 based on the transmitted treated payloadbyte counts and the content of the treated payload.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a tunnel downlink embodiment ofthe present invention. A downlink is defined as a transfer of a datapacket from a data packet network to a mobile node. In the example ofFIG. 5, the wireless gateway node 120 is receiving a data packetcontaining an untreated payload from data packet network 128 where it isforwarded to data treatment server 124. Wireless gateway node 120 may beone of a GGSN or a media gateway and, in the example of FIG. 5,represents all network support elements such as RNCs, BSCs and SGSNs.

Wireless gateway node 120 receives the data packet with the untreatedpayload from data packet network 128. In order to provide mobile nodeservices, such as content based billing, wireless gateway node 120 mustinspect the payload to determine the contents thereof. Wireless gatewaynode 120 inspects and classifies the untreated payload for contentbefore routing the data packet with the untreated payload to the datatreatment server 124. Content types may be based on one of a URL, aphone number, or a WAP. Wireless gateway node 120 creates tunnel 158 byencapsulating the data packet and by adding a CFL field and a byte countfield to the data packet header. The CFL is an identifier the wirelessgateway node 120 uses to identify the rate bucket against which themobile node services will be charged. Wireless gateway node 120 thenroutes the encapsulated data packet with the untreated payload to datatreatment server 124 where the untreated payload is optimized to createa treated payload. For each CFL in the data packet header, datatreatment server 124 inserts a corresponding byte count in the bytecount field representing the treated or optimized byte count for eachCFL type in the treated payload. The treated byte count corresponds tothe byte count that will be transmitted over the wireless link to themobile node. Data treatment server 124 routes the data packet back towireless gateway node 120. Wireless gateway node 120 removes theencapsulation and forwards the data packet with the treated payload tomobile node 150. Thereafter, wireless gateway node 120 performs servicesfor mobile node 150 based on the transmitted treated payload byte countsand the content of the treated payload.

FIG. 6 is an uplink signal graph according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Mobile node 150 transmits a data packet with atreated payload to wireless gateway node 120. Wireless gateway node 120encapsulates the data packet and the treated payload by adding acompression protocol header having billing ID and byte count fields,among others. Wireless gateway node 120 routes the data packets with thetreated payload to data treatment server 124. Data treatment server 124converts the treated payload to an untreated payload and adds thetreated payload byte count to the byte count field corresponding to eachbilling ID. Data treatment server 124 then routes the data packets withthe untreated payload back to wireless gateway node 120. Wirelessgateway node 120 removes the compression protocol header and removes theencapsulation and further inspects and classifies the payload forcontent. The inspected content of the untreated payload is correlatedwith the billing ID and byte count fields. The data packet with theuntreated payload is then routed to data packet network 128. Thereafter,wireless gateway node 120 performs mobile node services based on thebilling ID and the corresponding byte counts.

FIG. 7 is a downlink signal graph according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Wireless gateway node 120 receives a data packet withan untreated payload from data packet network 128. Wireless gateway node120 inspects and classifies the content of the data packet payload thenencapsulates the data packet and the untreated payload using GenericRouting Encapsulation (GRE) then adds a compression protocol headerhaving billing ID and byte count fields, among others. Based on theinspection and classification, wireless gateway node 120 fills thebilling ID field based on the inspected content. Thereafter, wirelessgateway node 120 routes the data packet with the untreated payload todata treatment server 124. Data treatment server 124 converts theuntreated payload to a treated payload and adds the treated payload bytecount to the byte count field corresponding to the billing ID. Datatreatment server 124 then routes the data packet with the treatedpayload back to wireless gateway node 120. Wireless gateway node 120removes the compression protocol header and removes the encapsulation.The data packet with the treated payload is then routed to mobile node150. Thereafter, wireless gateway node 120 performs mobile node servicesbased on the billing ID and the corresponding byte counts.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, an optional at least one loadbalancer 222 is the end point of tunnel 158. When wireless gateway node120 encapsulates the data packet using GRE then adds the compressionprotocol header, the address of the at least one load balancer 222 isthe destination address. The at least one load balancer 222 routes datapackets to one of a plurality of data treatment servers 224 based on theload conditions to treat and un-treat the data packets. The routing ofdata packets for the uplink and downlink are as previously described.

FIG. 9 illustrates the compression protocol header in accordance withthe present invention. When the data packet is encapsulated by one ofthe data treatment server, the load balancer, or the data treatmentserver, the compression protocol header is added to the GRE header. Ascan be seen in FIG. 9, GRE header 230 includes an outer IP header, a GREheader, a compression protocol header, and a payload. As can be furtherseen in FIG. 9, the compression protocol header includes a number ofadditional fields 234-250.

Field 234 includes a three-bit Type field, a three-bit Reserved (R)field, a six-bit Sub-Type field, a four-bit Version (V) field, aneight-bit Billing ID Length field, and an eight-bit Length field. TheType field contains information on the protocol used. The Reserved (R)field is reserved for further uses while the Sub-Type field defines thedirection of data flow as either ingress (uplink) or egress (downlink).The Version field (V) is initially set to zero with other valuesreserved for future use. The Billing ID Length field defines the lengthof the subsequent billing ID fields. The Length field defines the lengthof the compression protocol header excluding the Type, Reserved,Sub-Type, Version, B-ID Length, and the Length fields.

A Billing ID field 238 is a variable length field set by the wirelessgateway node based on the results of the data packet inspection andclassification. Byte Count field 242 contains the byte count of thetreated payload corresponding to Billing ID field 238. Multiple optionalBilling ID field 246 and Byte Count 250 are included if the results ofthe data packet inspection and classification produce more than one typeof content in the data packet payload. Although not shown in FIG. 9, apadding field may be added to the compression protocol header to bringthe total header length to an even multiple of four bytes.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In a wireless gateway node, the method includesinitially receiving at least one data packet containing an untreatedpayload from a data packet network (step 270). Based on the inspectionand classification of the data packet payload, the method includesinserting a content flow label in a header of the at least one datapacket to classify and identify the untreated payload (step 274) thenrouting the at least one data packet with the untreated payload to adata treatment server wherein the data treatment server converts theuntreated payload to a treated payload (step 278).

In a wireless gateway node, the method includes receiving the at leastone data packet that includes the treated payload from the datatreatment server wherein the header includes the content flow label anda corresponding byte count of the treated payload (step 282).Thereafter, the method includes transmitting the data packet thatincludes the treated payload to a wireless node (step 286). Thereafter,the inventive method includes performing services for the wireless nodebased on the content flow label and the corresponding treated payloadbyte count (step 290).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. In a wireless gateway node, the embodiment of theinventive method includes receiving at least one data packet from a datapacket network, wherein the at least one data packet includes anuntreated payload (step 300). In order to provide services to the mobilenode, the next step includes inspecting the data packet payload toclassify and identify for content the untreated payload (step 304).Based on the results of the inspection, the wireless gateway nodegenerates a content flow label corresponding to the classified andidentified content of the untreated payload (step 308). The wirelessgateway node then routes the at least one data packet to a datatreatment server over a data link wherein the data treatment serverconverts the untreated payload to a treated payload (step 312).

Thereafter, the embodiment of the inventive method includes transmittingsignaling messages to the data treatment server over a signaling linkwherein the signaling messages include the content flow label (step316). The signaling link may be over one of an SS7 network, an ATMnetwork, or an IP network. Thereafter, the wireless gateway nodeexecutes an application program interface (API) to transmit the contentflow label and treated payload byte count (step 320).

The wireless gateway node then receives the at least one data packetincluding the treated payload from the data treatment server andtransmit the at least one data packet including the treated payload to awireless node (step 324). A next step includes receiving signalingmessages from the data treatment server, wherein the signaling messagesinclude the content flow label and a corresponding treated payload bytecount (step 328). Thereafter, the wireless gateway node performsservices for the wireless node based on the content flow label and thecorresponding treated payload byte count (step 332).

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. According to this embodiment, a wireless gatewaynode receives at least one data packet from a mobile node, wherein theat least one data packet includes a treated payload (step 340). Due tothe treatment (optimization and/or compression) of the payload, thewireless gateway node is unable to inspect the payload for content. Thewireless gateway node will, therefore, route the at least one datapacket to a data treatment server over a data link wherein the datatreatment server converts the treated payload to an untreated payload(step 344). Following the data treatment, the data treatment serverreturns the at least one data packet with the untreated payload to thewireless gateway node. Thereafter, the wireless gateway node receivesthe at least one data packet that includes the untreated payload fromthe data treatment server (step 348). In order to provide services, thewireless gateway node will inspect the payload to classify and identifythe untreated payload of the at least one data packet based on at leastone of a URL, a telephone number, a File Transport Protocol (ftp)address, and a WAP address (step 352). Following the inspection andclassification step, the wireless gateway node routes the at least onedata packet that includes the untreated payload to a destination in thedata packet network (step 356). In order to exchange the content flowlabel and byte count information, the wireless gateway node executes anapplication program interface (API) to transmit the content flow label(step 360). The API sends signaling messages over a signaling link tothe data treatment server wherein the signaling messages include thecontent flow label corresponding to the untreated payload (step 364). Inresponse to the signaling messages, the data treatment server determinesthe transmitted treated byte count for each content flow label andreturns the data to the wireless gateway node over the signaling link.The wireless gateway node receives the signaling messages from the datatreatment server over the signaling link, wherein the signaling messagesinclude the byte count corresponding to the byte count of the treatedpayload in relation to the content flow label (step 368). Thereafter,the wireless gateway node performs services for the wireless node basedon the content flow label and the corresponding byte count of thetreated payload (step 372).

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, a wireless gateway nodereceives at least one data packet that includes a treated payload from awireless node (step 380) and inserts a content flow label in a header ofthe at least one data packet to classify and identify the treatedpayload by content (step 384). Following the classification andidentification, the wireless gateway node routes the at least one datapacket including the treated payload over a data link to a datatreatment server wherein the data treatment server converts the treatedpayload to an untreated payload (step 388). After the conversion, thedata treatment server then determines a transmitted treated byte countfor each content flow label assigned by the wireless gateway node thenreturns the at least one data packet to the wireless gateway node. Thewireless gateway node receives the at least one data packet thatincludes the untreated payload from the data treatment server with thecontent flow label and a corresponding byte count of the transmittedtreated payload (step 392). Thereafter, the wireless gateway node routesthe at least one data packet including the untreated payload to a datapacket network (step 396), and performs data services for the wirelessnode based on the content flow label and the corresponding transmittedtreated payload byte count (step 400).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless gateway node receives at least onedata packet from a mobile node, wherein the at least one data packet hasa standard IP header containing a treated payload (step 404). Thewireless gateway node cannot inspect the treated payload and is,therefore, unable to provide mobile node services based on the contentof the payload. In order to receive information regarding the treatedpayload, the wireless gateway node creates a compression protocol headerthat includes, in this embodiment of the invention, a content billing IDfield and a byte count field, among others. The wireless gateway nodecreates at least one encapsulated data packet by adding the compressionprotocol header to the standard IP header (step 408), wherein theencapsulation adds a GRE header to the standard IP header. Following theencapsulation of the at least one data packet, the wireless gateway noderoutes the at least one encapsulated data packet to a data treatmentserver, wherein the data treatment server converts the treated payloadto an untreated payload (step 412). After payload treatment, the datatreatment server inserts byte counts into the byte count fieldscorresponding to the transmitted treated payload byte counts. Once thepayload is converted to an untreated payload, the wireless gateway nodewill be able to inspect the payload for content. The wireless gatewaynode receives the at least one encapsulated data packet from the datatreatment server that contains the untreated payload, wherein thecompression protocol header contains at least one field indicating thenumber of bytes in the transmitted treated payload (step 416). Beforethe wireless gateway node routes the data packet to the data packetnetwork, it removes the GRE header and removes the compression protocolheader from the at least one encapsulated data packet and routes the atleast one data packet to the data packet network (step 420). Based onthe contents of the billing ID field and the number of transmittedtreated payload bytes indicated in the byte count field, the wirelessgateway node provides services based on the content of the untreatedpayload and the number of bytes in the transmitted treated payload (step424). The services provided may include one of content based billing,pre-paid wireless, and content based routing.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In a wireless gateway node, receive at least onedata packet having a standard IP header and an untreated payload (step430) from a data packet network. Because the payload is untreated, thewireless gateway node can inspect and classify the data packet untreatedpayload for content (step 434). Each content type in the payload isassigned a content billing ID field based on a rate bucket correspondingto the content type. There may be multiple content types in a datapacket. The wireless gateway node creates at least one encapsulated datapacket by adding a compression protocol header to the standard IP header(step 438) then adds a GRE header to complete the encapsulation.Thereafter, the wireless gateway node routes the at least oneencapsulated data packet to a data treatment server, wherein the datatreatment server converts the untreated payload to a treated payload(step 442). The services provided by the wireless gateway node arebased, in part, on the number of treated payload bytes transmittedbetween the wireless gateway node and the wireless node. Thus, thewireless gateway node receives the encapsulated data packet from thedata treatment server that contains the treated payload, wherein thecompression protocol header contains at least one field corresponding tothe number of bytes in the treated payload (step 446). Prior totransmitting the data packet with the treated payload, the wirelessgateway node will remove the encapsulation and remove the compressionprotocol header from the at least one encapsulated data packet andtransmit the at least one data packet with the treated payload to themobile node (step 450). The wireless gateway node then provides servicesbased on the inspected and classified content of the untreated payloadand the number of bytes in the transmitted treated payload (step 454).

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. A data treatment server, in this embodiment ofthe invention, provides services to a mobile node. The data treatmentserver receives at least one encapsulated data packet having a standardIP header and an untreated payload (step 460), wherein the encapsulationuses the GRE protocol. The data treatment server inspects and classifiesfor content the at least one encapsulated data packet untreated payload(step 464). According to a defined algorithm for optimization orcompression, the data treatment server treats the at least oneencapsulated data packet untreated payload to produce a treated payload(step 468). Thereafter, the data treatment server forwards the at leastone encapsulated treated data packet including the treated payload to awireless gateway node for transmission to a wireless node (step 472).Based on the results of the inspection and classification, the datatreatment server provides services based on the inspected and classifiedcontent of the untreated payload and the number of bytes in the treatedpayload (step 476). Thus, the mobile node will be charged for services,such as one of content based billing, pre-paid wireless, and contentbased routing based on the number of treated bytes transmitted betweenthe mobile node and the wireless gateway node.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. According to this embodiment of the presentinvention, a data treatment server provides services to a mobile node.The data treatment server receives at least one encapsulated data packethaving a standard IP header and a treated payload (step 480), whereinthe encapsulation is based on the GRE protocol. The data treatmentserver will inspect and classify the at least one encapsulated datapacket treated payload for content and a number of bytes in thetransmitted treated payload (step 484). Thereafter, the data treatmentserver will untreat the at least one encapsulated data packet payload toproduce an untreated payload (step 492). Thereafter, the data treatmentserver routes the at least one encapsulated data packet that includesthe untreated payload to a wireless gateway node for routing to the datapacket network (step 496). The data treatment server then providesservices based on the inspected and classified content of the untreatedpayload and the number of bytes in the treated payload (step 500).

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the term“substantially” or “approximately”, as may be used herein, provides anindustry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term. Such anindustry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twentypercent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values,integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise andfall times, and/or thermal noise. As one of average skill in the artwill further appreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be usedherein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via anothercomponent, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, theintervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify theinformation of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level,and/or power level. As one of average skill in the art will alsoappreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled toanother element by inference) includes direct and indirect couplingbetween two elements in the same manner as “operably coupled”. As one ofaverage skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “comparesfavorably”, as may be used herein, indicates that a comparison betweentwo or more elements, items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

While particular combinations of various functions and features havebeen expressly described herein, other combinations of these featuresand functions are possible that are not limited by the particularexamples disclosed herein are expressly incorporated within the scope ofthe present invention.

1. A method in a data treatment server for providing services in acommunications network, the method comprising: receiving, by the datatreatment server, at least one encapsulated data packet having astandard Internet Protocol (IP) header and a treated payload;converting, by the data treatment server, the treated payload of the atleast one encapsulated data packet to an untreated payload to permitinspection and classification of payload content; forwarding, to awireless gateway node, the at least one encapsulated data packetincluding the untreated payload to produce inspected and classifiedcontent of the untreated payload; receiving, by the data treatmentserver, the at least one encapsulated data packet including theuntreated payload with inspected and classified content; treating the atleast one encapsulated data packet including the untreated payload toproduce another treated payload; forwarding, to the wireless gatewaynode, the at least one encapsulated treated data packet including theanother treated payload for transmission to a wireless node; andproviding the services based on the inspected and classified content ofthe untreated payload and the number of bytes in the another treatedpayload.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data treatment servercomprises one of: a Traffic Protocol Optimizer (TPO) and a loadbalancer.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the services include at leastone of content based billing, pre-paid wireless, and content basedrouting.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one encapsulateddata packet is encapsulated using Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE).5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network comprises atleast one of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and aGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein the treating the at least one encapsulated data packet payloadcomprises one of: optimizing the payload and compressing the payload. 7.A data treatment server to provide services in a communications networkfunctions to: receive at least one encapsulated data packet having astandard Internet Protocol (IP) header and a treated payload; convertthe treated payload of the at least one encapsulated data packet to anuntreated payload; forward, to a wireless gateway node, the at least oneencapsulated data packet including the untreated payload to produceinspected and classified content of the untreated payload; receive theat least one encapsulated data packet including the untreated payloadwith inspected and classified content; treat the at least oneencapsulated data packet including the untreated payload to produceanother treated payload; forward the at least one encapsulated treateddata packet including the another treated payload to the wirelessgateway node for transmission to a wireless node; and provide theservices based on the inspected and classified content of the untreatedpayload and the number of bytes in the another treated payload.
 8. Thedata treatment server of claim 7 further comprises at least one of: aTraffic Protocol Optimizer (TPO) and a load balancer.
 9. The datatreatment server of claim 7 wherein the services include at least one ofcontent based billing, pre-paid wireless, and content based routing. 10.The data treatment server of claim 7 wherein the at least oneencapsulated data packet is encapsulated using Generic RoutingEncapsulation (GRE).
 11. The data treatment server of claim 7 whereinthe communications network comprises at least one of a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) and a General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) network.
 12. The data treatment server of claim 7 wherein totreat the at least one encapsulated data packet payload comprises atleast one of: optimizing the payload and compressing the payload.